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In honour of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, we are proud to shine a spotlight on some of the remarkable women driving innovation and progress in cyber security and IT at Toro.
This year's theme, "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," serves as a reminder that whilst the tech industry has made some progress, there is still a long way to go.
Despite the industry’s rapid expansion, women remain under-represented, comprising just 24% of cyber security professionals, although this figure is higher than the 11% which was reported in 2017 (Cybersecurity Workforce Study.)
In the broader IT landscape, the statistics paint a similar picture, with women accounting for a mere 26% of the workforce. These statistics underscore the uphill battle we face in bridging the gender gap.
In our latest blog, we discuss the enduring stereotypes within the industry and explore the initiatives that are driving inclusivity forward. We will also be featuring some of the brilliant women at Toro, as they talk about their journeys into the field and offer advice for anyone looking to kickstart their careers in technology.
Change the Stereotype
One of the biggest issues within the tech industry is the prevalent misconception that men are inherently better suited to technical skills, and that cyber security is primarily a domain for those with a strong technical background.
In 2017, PwC UK conducted a research study to find out why so few women in the UK were choosing technology as a career. The research - which included over 2,000 school-leavers and university students in the UK - revealed that only 27% of females would consider a career in technology compared to 62% of males, with only 3% of females saying it was their first choice. The respondents highlighted a lack of female role models and the fact that nobody was suggesting a career in technology as an option for them as the reason why.
Whilst things are improving and efforts are underway to broaden school curriculums, ensuring comprehensive IT education for all children, there is still a long way to go.
We believe that by nurturing an inclusive environment from an early age, we can pave the way for more women to pursue careers in technical IT and cyber security roles.
Initiatives
Initiatives tailored exclusively for attracting women in technology and cyber security, such as scholarships, training programmes, mentorship opportunities, and networking events, have increased in recent years.
There have also been lots of positive initiatives from the government including the NCSC CyberFirst Girls competition. The CyberFirst Girls Competition aims to inspire girls interested in technology to pursue a career in cyber security.
The competition is a team event. Each team – consisting of up to four girls tackle challenges from cryptography and logic to artificial intelligence and networking for the chance to be crowned cyber security champions.
We need more initiatives like this to help inspire girls at school. We need to find a way to naturally expose the next generation to IT.
Katie, Toro’s Director of Cyber Security journey into the field started because of her Dad “I was exposed at a young age to IT because of my dad’s career, which sparked a natural interest in IT. This was nurtured by an informal ‘sons and daughters’ scheme offered by a friendly IT recruiter who aimed to give opportunities for work experience to the children of its network of staff, contractors, and consultants. As a result, we at Toro will always take time to speak to school leavers, university graduates and those looking to change profession if they are interested in a career in IT or security. Even, if we cannot offer them a job, we will always discuss our experiences with them and try to give them advice on widening their network, utilising their transferable skills and broadening their opportunities with other potential employers.”
Tara, Service Delivery Manager, love for technology began with gaming “I got into gaming at a fairly young age, it started with a games console and from then my obsession with gaming grew! When I was a teenager, my brother was really into computers and kept buying different computer parts and fixing them and this grew my interest in technology!”
Toro’s Service Delivery Analyst, Lily’s interest in IT started with a love for gaming too. “My Dad bought me a games console when I was growing up, we used to play games together and I think my love from technology really grew from there. I also grew up at the cusp of the internet becoming a big part of everyone's lives, which has meant that technology has always been in my life.”
What skills do you need?
Katie: “I did an A Level in Computer Science, but a degree in social science. I was fortunate to get work experience in an IT environment despite not doing a degree in technology. This proves that you don't necessarily need IT specific qualifications to get into the industry and maybe this is an assumption that can be challenged.”
“It is also useful to have transferable skills, especially in risk and security, rather than just technical ability. So, if women are interested in how technology is used in business, and can adapt their skill set to cyber security, then there are likely to be opportunities out there for them.” Employers are looking for people who are good communicators and can build relationships with other business stakeholders, not just those with technical ability.
What do you enjoy about working in technology / cyber space?
Lily: "I enjoy my role because of the independence it offers and the opportunity to actively contribute and help others. I really enjoy the fast-paced nature of the MSP environment, and the exposure I get to various tasks due to our range of clients. I also love being part of a smaller team as it allows me to be involved in multiple projects... I feel lucky that Toro has a female Director, Katie and my manager is also female, this is so rare in this industry, and I hope we see more of it in the future.”
Katie: “I love championing IT, technology, and security in a business setting. Every company relies on its IT systems now, and it is up to companies like Toro to promote technology and security as a business enabler – not just an overhead cost. That’s why it is a big focus at Toro to understand our clients’ needs and their specific context so all our services can be proportionate and appropriate. Technology presents so many opportunities – and if we design it securely, up front, it should scale sustainably with the business.”
What would you say to anyone looking at getting into the field?
Lily: “I’d recommend studying and getting a job so you can learn whilst you are studying, an apprenticeship is great for this. I think this combination helps you to develop the skills that you are learning through your studies. I think this route helps you gain a better understanding, and it will also help guide you on which pathway to go down. In terms of your studies, I’d recommend the COMPTIA certifications.”
Tara: “Don’t doubt yourself because you are a female, your gender doesn’t define how competent you are. If you enjoy something and want to do it, then don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. This a really exciting space to be in right now. There are so many opportunities, if you have the right attitude and want to learn you will excel. Don’t think that you know what it’s all about until you have fully given it a go! You don’t need have to have a university degree to get into technology. If at 16/ 18 years you enjoy computers, then look for an apprenticeship in IT. Learning on the job is so important, I learnt more in the first 6 months of my career than did throughout my whole degree.”
Katie: “Do it. The industry needs more talent and more diversity. We need smart people, who are quick to learn, interested in technology and care about security – because ultimately we want to keep people, companies, and their data safe. If you believe you have the attitude and the aptitude to apply yourself to this profession don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
How did you get into this field?
Tara: “Even though I was really interested in technology from a young age, I didn’t think I’d be any good at it. I didn’t have anyone telling me otherwise, or role models to look up to, as a girl gamer I was the anomaly and I believed that boys would be better at the tech roles, and I wouldn’t be able to do it.
I ended up doing a degree in a completely different field. However, after graduating and starting my career I realised I really wasn’t enjoying it and decided to retrain, but I didn’t know what to do. My partner asked me the question, ‘what do you really enjoy doing’ and my answer was gaming. It got me thinking that it was something I could actually do. I went back to University and completed an IT degree - I was the only female on my course! Since then I have worked hard to get to where I am today.”
Lily: “I started by doing a Business Admin apprenticeship alongside an IT qualification, I then moved on to do an apprenticeship in IT infrastructure. During this time, I worked in a legal software company and a college, so I got really good exposure to different roles. It was when I was working in IT recruitment, that I kept seeing roles for 1st and 2nd line support, and I thought I could do that!”
Katie: “I initially converted to law, trained, and qualified as a commercial solicitor, because I always thought IT was my part time job whilst I was studying and not the long-term career option. After I qualified as I lawyer, I realised that it wasn’t what I wanted to do, and I made IT my full time job. I haven’t looked back.”
Who has inspired you?
Tara: “Katie has done wonders at teaching me my self-worth. At previous organisations I’ve worked in, I’ve been the only female, so to work alongside other females at Toro and to have a female Director of Cyber Security is inspirational. I think that having females in leadership roles is so important, but sadly it’s still so rare in this industry.”
Katie: “I’ve had a couple of really good line managers in previous positions who were both male but championed gender equality and supported female leadership. In addition to this, I’ve always been incredibly stubborn and refuse to believe that a man can do anything better than a woman can! Gender should be irrelevant in professional success – let your performance prove your worth, not your sex.”
International Women's Day serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing need to invest in women and accelerate progress in the fields of cyber security and IT.
While strides have been made, the gender gap remains evident, highlighting the importance of initiatives to promote inclusivity and diversity.
By challenging stereotypes, nurturing talent from an early age, and providing opportunities for growth and development, we can change the future landscape for women in technology.
Let’s not leave this conversation just for International Women’s Day let’s work together every single day of the year and together we can create lasting change.